It's dark and empty. See what Atlantic City looks like after coronavirus shutdown.

Updated Mar 22, 2020; Posted Mar 22, 2020

By Tim Hawk and Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Closed casinos and business darken the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

On a typical Friday spring night the Atlantic City Boardwalk would be bustling with gamblers walking from casino to casino looking for that big pay day or a family out for a walk after dining at one of the city's restaurants.

But this past Friday night was like no other.

As the sun set, the city was eerily quiet. There were no shoppers walking from store to store at the Tanger Outlets The Walk and the only noise heard from the surrounding streets was the music coming from the occasional passing car with the windows down.

This was an eye-opening contrast from a week earlier when the city was alive with St. Patrick's Day festivities which continued despite the overwhelming advice from federal and state health officials along with the CDC who urged "social distancing" to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Don't Edit

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, left, and The Water Club Hotel, right, are dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

In a more drastic attempt to control the pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday ordered all casinos, restaurants and bars to close while strongly suggesting people stay off the roads from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

With these restrictions now in place, Atlantic City has turned into a ghost town.

The once bright lights from the casinos that served as a welcoming beacon to visitors as they drove in from the Atlantic City Expressway or the White Horse Pike have been darkened.

The video display covering the façade of Harrah's Resort, which dazzled passersby with advertisements, was instead a blank slate.

The massive LED illuminated ball on top of Ocean Casino Resort was lit while below only a few of the 1,399 rooms had lights on. A lone security guard roamed the casino floor passing by slot machines -- which remained on -- pausing for a brief moment to peek out from the floor-to-ceiling windows to a nearly empty boardwalk.

Don't Edit

The boardwalk is empty in Atlantic City, N.J., Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Advertisements from the many video billboards along the boardwalk spoke to the few people walking aimlessly about. Bicyclists seemed to take the place of Atlantic City's iconic rolling chairs which were nowhere to be found.

A man riding his bike past Caesars, his fishing rod dangling from the back, commented how much cleaner the boardwalk looked at night with less people.

Now that the governor has ordered New Jersey's 9 million residents to stay at home except for necessary travel and mandating that all non-essential retail businesses in the state to close until further notice, this surreal scene will continue to play out in Atlantic City and cities from across the state.

Scroll below to see more pictures of Atlantic City during the coronavirus shutdown.

Don't Edit

A man walks past Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

The doors to Wild Wild West Casino at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino are padlocked, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Aleida Guzman, supervisor at Bricker's Burgers and More on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, takes an order, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

A courtyard at The Walk outlets in Atlantic City, N.J., is void of people early Friday night, March 20, 2020. Outlet stores would normally be open at this time, but had been closed to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

The silhouette of a security guard is seen in the window of the casino floor at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Tropicana Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Seats are taped off at the Atlantic City Bus Terminal, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

The Starbucks store at The Walk outlets in Atlantic City, N.J., is empty Friday evening, March 20, 2020. Earlier in the week, Starbucks had switched to "grab-and-go, " where customers could only take their orders to go in order to help stop the spread of coronavirus, but on Saturday morning, only stores with a drive-thru would remain open. This location closed. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Three girls take a walk on an otherwise empty boardwalk near Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Empty booths and seats inside Johnny Rockets, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Ocean Casino Resort is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

The lights at Golden Nugget Atlantic City are off, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Two bicycles remain chained to a bike rack outside Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Empty streets around the Tanger Outlets The Walk in Atlantic City, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

The Hard Rock Cafe inside Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City is empty, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Golden Nugget Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Animated signs are lit up with a safety message regarding coronavirus along the Atlantic City boardwalk, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Then entrance to the Steel Pier, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Harry's Oyster Bar is is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

The skyline of southern Atlantic City is mostly dim Friday night, March 20, 2020, following the closure of the casinos to help slow the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Resorts Casino Hotel, left, is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Ocean Casino Resort and Showboat Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Two men ride their bikes on an otherwise empty boardwalk near Wild Wild West Casino at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, Friday night, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

A lone man with luggage walks down Atlantic Avenue near the intersection with South Pennsylvania Avenue, and the roads are nearly empty of traffic in Atlantic City, N.J., Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

An empty parking lot at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Harrah's Resort Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

The skyline of northern Atlantic City is mostly dim Friday night, March 20, 2020, following the closure of the casinos to help slow the spread of coronavirus. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City is mostly dark, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

The boardwalk is empty and very few lights remain on at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., due to the coronavirus outbreak, Friday, March 20, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

A bicyclist rides by Tropicana Atlantic City, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

A sign at Caesars tells people to be safe, Friday, March 20, 2020. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the casinos to close Monday night, March 16, to help stop the spread of coronavirus. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)